National League Roundup : Homer by Mets’ Johnson Has Herzog Popping Off About a Corked Bat

On Thursday night against the New York Mets, the slumping St. Louis Cardinals had a lot of bat problems.

First, they were without the services of slugger Jack Clark, who was injured in a first-base collision Wednesday night.

Then, after Howard Johnson hit a home run in the eighth inning for the Mets’ final run in a 5-3 win at St. Louis, Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog exploded over what he claimed was a corked bat.

“I wish I had a hatchet,� said a livid Herzog, who asked that home plate umpire Joe West remove the bat from the game for examination after Johnson hit his 25th homer. “I wanted to get the bat last night, but (catcher Tony) Pena had a helluva time getting it from the batboy. I’ve known for a long time he uses a corked bat.�

An angry Johnson denounced Herzog.

“That’s an insult to me and my ability,� Johnson said. “Why don’t he (Herzog) ask Bill Dawley and Tony Pena about the pitch. It was a fastball right down the middle of the plate. What am I supposed to do? I can hit home runs. It’s not like Rafael Santana hitting. If Rafael had 15 home runs it might be different, but I can hit.�

New York Manager Davey Johnson kept the locker room closed for more than 20 minutes until he got the bat back from umpire crew chief Paul Runge. Runge said the bat was legal.

Dwight Gooden (8-3) won his sixth straight decision against the Cardinals as the Mets completed a three-game sweep. They extended St. Louis’ longest losing streak of the season to seven.

New York moved within 5 1/2 games of the East-leading Cardinals. Montreal is 4 games behind.

Clark’s availability to the Cardinals is on a day-to-day basis.

Montreal 6, Chicago 1--Mike Fitzgerald went three for three, drove in two runs and scored twice, while Neal Heaton (12-4) allowed 8 hits in 7 innings as the Expos beat the Cubs at Chicago.

Philadelphia 1, Pittsburgh 0--Bruce Ruffin pitched a five-hitter for 8 innings, and Glenn Wilson singled home a run in the ninth inning to give the Phillies a victory over the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Ruffin (9-7) has won five of his last six starts. Steve Bedrosian pitched two-thirds of an inning for his major league leading 29th save. Pirate starter Mike Dunne did not allow a hit for the first six innings. He gave up three hits and struck out seven before being lifted for a pinch-hitter.

Houston 8, Atlanta 5--Alan Ashby singled home two runs, and Kevin Bass added a two-run homer in support of emergency starter Bob Knepper to lead the Astros over the Braves at Atlanta.

Knepper (4-12) surrendered six hits over five innings to snap a personal four-game losing streak. He was a last-minute replacement for Jim Deshaies, who experienced shoulder stiffness while warming up.

San Diego 12, Cincinnati 8--Carmelo Martinez’s two-run single sparked a seven-run fifth inning that carried the Padres to victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.